Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-02-15
TILDEN AND HENDRICKS.
Ex.Congre ssman Lamb Dcscribss
Their Last Meeting.


Hendricks always had warm feeling
and who knew more, probably, of the
Vice President than any other person
All had given some "reminiscences of the
at one time great leader, when ons
gentleman, addressing Mr.. Lamb, said
John, understand that you were a
the last meeting between Mr.. Tilder
and Governor Hendricks. Tell u'
something about it,
Most persons will remember the meet
| ing referred to. 1t was short time pre-
vious to the Democratic National Con
ventlon at Chicago at which President
Cleveland was nominated. The names
of Tilden and Hendricks were upor
every mans lps, and it almost wen
without ga, ing that they would be The
nominees Of the Democratic party fol
President and Vice-P President. Mr.
the idea. He had just returned from
Europe, where, accompanied by Mrs.
Hendricks, he had sought relisf from th,
disease that afterwards cost him his life
The evening following his landing a
New York Mr.. Hendricks called upor
Mr.. Tilden at Gramercy Park. Wher
requested to tell Of that meeting Mr.
Lamb at first hesitated. but throwing
himself back in an easy chair, musingl,
replied:
AT GRAMERCY PARK.
Eyes, I was at that meeting and an
the only person living who saw wha'
took place or who heard the converse
tion. There were but we three-Gover-
nor Hendricks, Mr.. Tilden and myself.
They are both dead. l have never
spoken of the meeting before, because
Mr.. Hendricks requested me not to do
SO. 1. was during the eirly part Of
May, 1884, when one morning, happening
in New York City, / saw in the papers
that Governor and Mrs. Hendricks had
returned from Europe on the previous
day. was then member of Congress
and had run down to New York on busi'
ness. As soon as read of their arrival
l determined upon calling and paying
my respects. They were staying at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel, and an hour or go
later found me standing in the
presence of Governor Hendricks.
His trip abroad had, I readily saw.
improved him wonderfully, and ]
was particularly pleased to com.
pliment him upon his apparent good
health. We chatted pleasantly for
some time. OF course the Governor
desired to learn everything in regard to
affairs, political and otherwise, in oul
State. We spoke of politics in general,
too. and then he told me of having
called upon Mr.. Tilden at Greystone the
day before his departure for Europe.
He described Mr.. Tilden having taker
him around to see his fine stock, and oi
having driven him over his beautiful
grounds, and laid particular stress upon
Mr.. Tilden being in good sound health al
that time, and Mr Hendricks said tba
he was led to believe Mr.. Tilden was
then in the same condition. soon saw
that Mr.. Hendricks was contemplating
again trying issues for the Vice. Presi
dency with Mr.. Tilden at the head Of
the ticket. l suggested that probably
he would call upon Mr.. Tilden, and
requested the privilege of bearing hin
company.
"'Would you like to see Mr.. Tiiden?
he asked.
"'I most certainly would l replied
and we made an engagement to meet the
next day and call at Gramercy Park,
where Mr.. Tilden was then living.
at was about III o'clock the follow
ing morning. when we were ushered into
the magnificent library at Gramercy
Park. We had been met at the door by
Mr.. Green, former Controller of New
York, who extended us a most cordia
greeting.
A DECREPIT OLD MAN.
"As we entered the library l noticed {
little old man standing in the center Of
the room. He attracted my attention
more by his presence there than from
any other reason. / saw decrepit old
man, bent with age and shriveled by
pains and apparent years of illness. To
add to this he was terribly palsied; one
hand tremblingly futtered over his heart,
while tho other as tremblingly extended
by his side. There was peculiar fas-
cinaton in this mite of humanity to me,
and wondered who he could be. was
called from my wonderment by Governor
Hendricks, saying:
"Governor Tilden, I wish to present
Mr.. Lamb. young Congressman from
our State
'The gentleman turned slowly about
and partly bowed to me. 1t was Mr..
Tilden. Welll"-and here Mr.. Lamb
buried his hands down deep in his
trousers pockets--'I will never forget
it. He motioned US to chairs and in o
voice scarcely above the faintest whis.
per, said to Governor Hendricks:
How is Mrs. Hendricks?
every well, thank you, Governor;
very we'll, warmly answered Governor
Hendricks in his CHEEKY manner.
az hope she had a pleasant trip,
came again in SO low a tone that we
both had to bend over to catch what was
said.
eyes, indeed Governor Hendricks
replied, she enjoyed the trip very much.
''Mr. Tilden had dropped heavily into
his chair, and then had nothing more to
say. There was that vacant stare and
that moving and twisting of the head
which characterizes the person terribly
palsied, and with the futtering and
working of the hands hope never to
see again. We sat there probably
five minutes. Not another word
was spoken, and it became quite
embarrassing. l then reminded
Governor Hendricks of another
engagement, and excusing ourselves,
We left. Mr.. Tilden attempted to rise
as We were leaving, but fell back in his
chair. I could see that Governor Hend.
ricks was particularly disappointed al
Mr.. Tilden's condition, and we walked
up several SQUARES hefore either snoLa a
word. when Governor Hendricks said:
"'Well, what do you think, John?'
"T am sorry that went with you,
answered.
! "'We must not be interviewed
though, John. We must not be inter
viewed, was the only reply.
"That was the last meeting between
Governor Hendricks md Mr.. Tilden
A couple of months later Cleveland anc
Hendricks were named for President